Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

What the job really is

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9021
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
• Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
• Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
• Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
• Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
• Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
• Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
• Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
• Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
• Clean work areas.
• Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
• Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Adjustable wrenches, Ammeters, Belt scales, Chipping hammers, Claw hammers, Comealongs, Desktop computers, Dollies

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
• Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.